Transfusion triggers and evaluation of appropriateness of blood transfusion in maxillofacial surgery patients

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess powers of haemoglobin in determining the appropriateness of units of blood transfused in maxillofacial surgical patients and the patients socio-economic status. The haematocrit and haemoglobin concentration of one hundred patients, scheduled for elective maxillofacial surgery were determined at presentation in the hospital, pre, intra and postoperatively. Out of 100 patients, 75% of the patients had haemoglobin concentration of 10 g/dl and above while the remaining 25% had below 10 g/dl at presentation. The pre-transfusion haemoglobin concentration ranged from 8 to 12 g/dl. The hemoglobin level 24-h postoperative ranged between 7 and 13.3 g/dl. 20% of the transfusion done was unwarranted. We believed that raising the hemoglobin level of the patient with nutritional and iron supplements, lowering the transfusion trigger and target haemoglobin threshold for blood transfusion has a significant effect on the use of allogeneic blood without compromising patient outcome.

Keywords: Haemoglobin, haematocrit, blood transfusion.